Woman with Book” As a Tribute to Public Libraries
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James Havens created the sculpture “Woman with Book” as a tribute to public libraries. Using the geometric profile of the National Library logo as his inspiration James challenged himself to sculpt a contemporary figure to symbolize and celebrate the privilege of reading. Creating this figurative sculpture from stainless steel exemplifies the craftsmanship that has defined the artist’s art career, and dubbed him “Man of Steel” by Sculptural Pursuit magazine. The purpose of introducing you to Woman with Book is to invite you to consider adding this inspired work of art to your library. Placing this symbolic sculpture in a library setting will be more than a decorative enhancement to the interior or exterior setting, it will serve as a subliminal merging of symbolic visual art to a literary arts institution. The simplistic contemporary style of the piece has proved to be pleasant and agreeable to people of all ages. The durability, size, and low maintenance of welded stainless steel make this sculpture conducive to indoor or outdoor placement. The artist will include a commemorative bronze or stainless steel plaque in recognition of the acquisition as well as deliver and install the sculpture in the desired location. “Woman with Book” details: Weight: 255 lbs. Dimensions: 72” x 24” x 29” Asking price: $16,000 (includes plaque, delivery, and installation), Questions can be directed to: Robin Ballmer, Fine Arts Coordinator Representing James Havens PO Box 207 Perrysburg, Ohio 43552 419-902-2782 [email protected] Thank you for your consideration, Robin Ballmer James Havens Experience Local #55 International Association of Bridge, Structural, and Ornamental Ironworkers Ironworker 1968 - present (retired) Owens Community College Instructor, 2000 - present The Havens Studio and Rose Foundry Owner and Operator 1986 - present Arts Commission of Greater Toledo Restorer 1990's Education Woodstock School, Mussoorie, India Lincoln Welding School, Cleveland, Ohio Sculpture Shows • Art 'Round Town, Saugatuck/Douglas Michigan • Aaron Gallery, Washington D.C. • Toledo Botanical Gardens,Toledo OH • Grounds for Sculpture, Mercerville, NJ • Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, OH • University of Toledo Alumni Show, Toledo, OH • Roots of Diversity, Arts Commission of Greater Toledo • McCormick Hall, Chicago, IL • Schedel Gardens, Elmore, Oh • White River State Park, Indianapolis, IN • On a Pedestal, DCleveland Sculpture Center • Willard Wankelman Gallery, Bowling Green, OH • Owens Community College, Perrysburg, OH • Sculpture in the Village, Gibsonburg, OH • Cobo Hall, Detroit, MI • IX Center, Cleveland, OH • Midwest Sculpture Initiative Shows in Tecumseh, Marshall, Canton, Jackson, Lancaster, Novi, Michigan, Ottawa Hills and Toledo in Ohio • Flatlanders Gallery, Blissfield, MI • Omnisphere Gallery, Toledo, OH • American Gallery, Sylvania, OH • Seagate Gallery, Toledo, OH • 20 St. Claire Gallery, Toledo, OH • Toledo Area Sculpture Guild Show, Secor Building, Toledo, OH • Wayne State College, Wayne, Nebraska Works in Permanent Collections • "Detroit" private collection, (Aaron Gallery), Washington, DC • "Sempiternum" private collection, Toledo, OH • "Small Dancer" private collection, Toledo, OH • "Graceful Dancer" private collection, Toledo OH • "Seated Thinker" NASCO Corp. St. Paul, MN. • "Topping Out" Ironworkers Union Hall, Toledo, OH • "Eastern Tiger Swallowtail" Hospice of NW Ohio, Perrysburg, OH • "Kneeling Chaplain" Veterans Memorial, Gibsonburg, OH • "The Reader" Gibsonburg, OH • "Peace" Woodstock School, Mussoorie, India • "Large Joyful Dancer" Westgate Plaza, Toledo, OH • "Standing Thinker" University of Toledo • "Yellow Butterfly" Ottawa Hills, OH • "Joyful Dancer" Canton, MI • "Mr. Stoddard's Geometry Class" Cibson Tool Company, Bridgewater, NJ • "Butterfly" Willians Park, Gibsonburg, OH • "Large Graceful Dancer" Memorial Hospital, Fremont, OH • "OHIO" and "Crucifixion" Artists Collection , Woodville, OH • Novi Public Library, Novi MI • "Comet" Medical Center, Detroit, MI • "Graceful Dancer" Lakeview, Oregon • "Continuity of Space and Time" Kelly's Island, OH • "Geisha Dancer" Nicarauga • "Veronica Lake" Toledo, OH • " Eastern Tiger Swallowtail" Warsaw, IL • "Graceful Dancer" Hospice of N.W. Ohio, Perrysburg, OH Memberships Cleveland Sculpture Center International Association of Bridge, Structural & Ornamental Ironworkers International Sculpture Center Toledo Area Sculptors Guild, Past President Activities Curator "Sculpture in the Village", Gibsonburg, OH Organizer "Sky Pilot", Fulton County Memorial, Wauseon, OH Sculpture Restoration for Arts Commission of Greater Ohio- Major Ritual; Family (Mother); Woman with Birds; Waiting for the Wind; Ruth; River Walk; Alices Arches and others Previous Exhibitions • Aaron Gallery, Washington, DC • Art 'Round Town, Saugatuck, MI • Black Swamp Festival, Bowling Green, OH • Cobo Hall, Detroit, MI • Flatlanders Gallery, Blissfield, MI • Ford Road Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition, Canton, MI • Grounds for Sculpture, Mercerville, NJ • Harrison Rally Day, Perrysburg, OH • Ironworkers #55, Union Hall, Toledo, OH • IX Center, Cleveland, OH • McCormick Center, Chicago IL • Omnispere Gallery, Toledo, OH • Roots of Diversity Show, Toledo, OH • Schedel Gardens Outdoor Sculpture Invitational, Elmore, OH • Sculpture In the Park, Ottawa Hills, OH • Sculpture in the Village, Gibsonburg, OH • Seagate Gallery, Toledo OH • Spectrum Gallery, Toledo, OH • Toledo Area Artists Exhibition, Toledo, OH • Toledo Botanical Gardens, Toledo, OH • Toledo Area Artists Show, Toledo Museum of Art , Toledo, OH • University of Toledo Alumni Show, Toledo, OH Man of Steel Man of Peace Ohio Sculptor, James Havens by David Seth Brass ames Havens became motivated to teach himself to sculpt Jin stainless steel after stepping into the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 1965 and viewing a stainless steel sculpture by David Smith. Havens considers Smith to have been a pioneer in the history of American welded sculpture. Havens was born in Peekskill, New York, in 1938. By the time he was two years old, he had already completed four round trips between New York and California. With a father who had a well established reputation in the construction industry, travel was bound to define the kind of person Havens would one day become. “I’d had a somewhat varied education, starting in California and moving on to Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Kentucky, Idaho, Wyoming, New York, and Illinois, finishing with three years at a missionary school in the Himalayas of Uttar Pradesh, India. “A week after I graduated, I got a job on the St. Lawrence as a welder’s helper. When the winter lay-offs came, I joined the Marine Corps. By the fall of 1958 I was in Beirut and then throughout the Mediterranean. Wherever the Marines took me, it was the same as when I’d been with my Father; the world was a wondrous place to see. Whether it was North America, Europe, the Middle East or Asia, the creations of God and man were won- drous. To go to these places and find that there was more, more and still more, then I knew it would be a good thing to build and create. It did not have to be big like a cathedral; it could be small and within the capabilities of one man. The most important thing was that it be done well, for that was the common denominator of all that I liked.” Discussing the time in his life that he acknowledged his artistic capabilities, Havens explained that he always felt creative impulses and has always been a reader. He thought he wanted to be the next Ernest Hemingway. To determine if the direction he was meant to take was in writing, he sent out submissions to publications, which surprised his wife Karen. After receiving many rejections and viewing David Smith’s sculpture at the museum, destiny and desire directed Havens into the visual arts. “I knew a little about welding. My Dad had taught me to use his welding machine when I was in the second grade. I had tried three different colleges already and I wasn’t going back to school. I knew I needed to learn more about welding and about metal. “In 1967 I joined the International Association of Bridge, Structural and Ornamental Iron- workers’ Union. I then followed work in auto plants, coal-burning power houses, nuclear plants, high-rises, factories, shipyards, wherever steel construction was needed. During this time, the need to improve my welding was apparent, so I went to the Lincoln Welding School Facing Page: in Cleveland, Ohio and became a certified pipe and plate welder. In the mid 1970s, friends Artist with DANCER II and I started a steel fabrication and erection company, but by 1983 this became so demand- Above: ing that I was, to some extent, losing sight of my goals and decided to put it aside.” GHANDI Clay Potrait in Process Sculptural Pursuit 31 Havens talked about Jim Davis, a co-worker and friend for whom he had a high regard. “He was a wonderful man, very knowledge- able. People don’t realize how much you can learn by working one on one with a person who is a very capable craftsman. I worked with him day in and day out. You talk about small classrooms, one instructor and one student. You can pick up an immense amount of knowledge if that is what you want to do.” Havens would spend up to twelve hours a day with Davis. During work time, meals, and coffee breaks, they always talked about ironwork. Havens felt bad that it wasn’t possible to bottle up the wealth of knowledge that Davis and others had accumulated. The sculptor takes great pleasure from his work as an art and welding instructor at Owens Technical College, located in Ohio. Many of his students repeat his classes to learn what he has attained through his association with professional iron workers. Havens described how one of his students was frustrated and unable to begin a welded sculpture project. He told her, “You are From Top: Artist with CONTINUITY OF SPACE IN TIME 62” x 60” x 30” PEACE 89" x 69" x 29" THREE ARCS WITH EQUAL RADII 67" x 65" x 45" 32 Sculptural Pursuit “ Art is not mathematics; it is not spelling; it is not one of these empirical things. This is something that is intuitive, and you just take it and do it.” trying to think too much about art.